Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-29
PALMER NOT A PROPHET.
HE SIMPLY OBSERVES WHAT HE
THINKS INEVITABLE.


THINKS INEVITABLE.
on His Position as to the Saloon-The
Republican Party to Destroy It-A Prod
at the Frohibitionists-Not Posing as
Truly Good"-The Tariff.
DETROIT, Mich, Dec 29-Senator Palmer
arrived from Traverse City Tuesday even
ing, having attended the funeral of the late
Congressman Moffatt there He said: IAN
the arrangements were conducted decently
and in order There were neither wines nor
cigars at government expense, nor anything
that resembed a junket 1t was fitting
funeral to SO worthy a man" Wednesday
evening as the senator sat in his offica he
was asked by Chicago Herald correspond
ent if he was ready to talk about his posi-
ton on temperance. He said he was ready
to make complete statement of his record,
ideas and aims. The following interview
was then had, and was revised by the sena-
tor after being written out:
"Of course you have been made aware,
said the interviewer. "of the discussion awak-
perance question:
"If volumes of letters and innumerabls
newspaper clippings received could be said
to make ME are, have certainly been. /
may say that was never more surprised in
my life than at the force Of the recoil Of what
was assumed to be single discharge. In
the interviews reported in the New York pa
pers on the position which wished or hoped
he
would take relative to the temperance ques-
ton was conscious Of saying nothing that l
had not said repeatedly at home"
@Then you haven't experienced change of
hearts"
"Not at ALL II l have ever been friendly
to the liquor traffic | have forgotten it
Don't misunderstood me. am not posing
as truly good man. am not a total alb
tainer, but l am still farther from being an
advocate or defender of dram-drinking or
dram-selling.n
at was current report here that you pre-
| dicted that the Republican party would de-
| clare for Prohibition and make the fight for
that issue
$50 that was the news was ita II you see
| the cloudless east red with dawn are YOU pre-
sumptuous or prophetic il you remark that it
is nearly sunrisea That the Republican party
will destroy the saloon is not prophecy, it
is merely an observation The saloon is in
politics, and is in to stay until destroyed; this
needs no proof. 1t arrogantiy confronts the
Republican party, just now somewhat weak
ened by the detection of free traders, mug
wumps and misguided third party temper
ance men, aud challenges it to combat Is
there anything in the history of the Repub-
lican party to warrant a doubt as to what
answer it will return"
"Do you think that this question will soon
be made the leading party issuef"
ut should never be necessary to make it a
party issue. The good men of all parties
should join to suppress this enormous evil,
just as they join to prevent or stamp out
pestilence. 1t looks now as though the para
mount question to be practically decided
by the next presidential election would be the
protection or embarrassment of American
industries This is question affecting every
mans pocket and every woman's comfort,
but have faith to believe it will be settled
by unmistakabie Endorsement of the Amer
lean policy of our fathers and then give
place to the more personally important moral
question OF home protection"
what do you think of the local option
/
lawP
at is grandstep ahead for Michigan, and,
logically, the best possible provision for the
present. It utilizes public sentiment as fas,
as it is locally dominant for the right"
"Did you know it was reported here that
you had gone over to the Prohibitionistst7
NO, l did not see that in any of the pa
pers ! hardly think it could have been said
by any one who knew me. If l were entering
upon struggle of such magnitude should
hardly prefer squad 10 an army. The with
. drawal of these radical elements through
what seems to me to be chiefly impatence
only weakens by division the fighting fore:
of temperance, and can only result in sacri
flee and delay. 1t is not credi.abs in mar
to vote his spite against his conviction, bu
B it is human. However Hook to see this de
tachment return to the main body before tn,
decisive battle is joined | am Republican
first, last and all the time, and / do not ex
pect to be limited in or denied fellowship in
! Michigan when | add that i am an anti-sa
!. loon Republican"
!. How and where do you expect the opening
, skirrnish to begin!'
@ID the District of Columbia II the drinl
. problem can be solved by law in that dis
, trict, it will be- accepted as full solution
without further trial l think bill to abol
a ish the traffic in the District will be urget
! upon congress at this session. 1t has beer
: already introduced in the senate by Mr.
Z Platt, and you may make note that it wa:
not introduced for buncombe nor for fun"
r "One more question, senator. Are yol
Z contemplating return TO the senate ii
= 1sSnf'
a Contemplate is good There are tw
parties to be considered in that matter; first
the people OF Michigan, who have thus ia
refrained from limiting their preference, anc
y second, myself; who have not only limited
:, but declared a most decided preferences 70
;. Detroit and Fonthill farm"